AEK Athens 0-1 Brighton: Joao Pedro’s second-half penalty earns Seagulls victory over 10-man hosts… as Roberto De Zerbi’s men seal their spot in the Europa League knockout stages
- Joao Pedro netted a second-half penalty to give the visitors all three points
- AEK Athens were reduced to 10 men and couldn’t find a way back into the game
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This one is unlikely to fester for the next 200 years but the Greeks will be tempted to file it away with the Elgin Marbles in the box of perceived injustices.
Brighton won’t care though. They left Athens with three points from a game dominated for long periods by AEK and it is enough to extend their first Europa League campaign into the knock-out phase next year.
The contest was settled by Joao Pedro, who scored his fifth goal in the competition and his fourth from the spot, a penalty coolly taken and won himself, with a skilful jinking run into the penalty area early in the second half.
Pedro required an intervention from the VAR who spotted a trip from behind by AEK captain Damian Szymanski missed by referee Sandro Scharer.
It was the correct decision but agony for the Greek champions who were guilty of wasting too many chances and finished the game with 10 men after Mijat Gacinovic was sent off for a second yellow card.
Joao Pedro celebrates scoring Brighton’s winning goal against AEK Athens on Thursday night
Pedro’s goal sealed Brighton’s place in the knockout stages of the Europa League
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Brighton, depleted by injuries, never seemed entirely at ease but they fought to defend their lead, with goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen and centre-halves Lewis Dunk and Igor Julio outstanding.
They have one more fixture in Group B, at home to Marseille in a fortnight but first a trip to Chelsea on Sunday and a home game against Brentford on Wednesday.
Brighton made a fast and fluent start without capitalising. Evan Ferguson forced double save inside two minutes, having broken clear down the left, and Dunk headed the resulting corner across goal and wide.
MATCH FACTS & PLAYER RATINGS
AEK Athens (4-4-2): Stankovic 6; Rota 6, Vida 7, Moukoudi 7, Hajsafi 6; Amrabat 6 (Eliasson 72, 6), Pineda 7 (Pizarro 83), Szymanski 6.5, Gacinovic 6; Mantalos 6 (Araujo 72, 5), Zuber 7 (Ponce 72, 5).
Subs: Athanasiadis, Gkinis, Mohammadi, Mitoglu, Sidibe, Pizarro
Bookings: Gacinovic, Zuber
Red card: Gacinovic 66
Manager: Mathias Almeyda 6
Brighton (4-4-2): Verbruggen 7.5; Veltman 6, Julio 7.5, Dunk 8, Hinshelwood 7; Adingra 6.5, Gross 6 Gilmour 6.5 (Baleba 88), Mitoma 5 (Dahoud 69, 6)); Pedro 6.5 (Milner 77), Ferguson 6 (Duffus 88).
Subs: Steele, McGill, Buonanotte, Hinchy, Chouchane, Jackson, Kavanagh.
Goals: Pedro 55 (pen)
Bookings: Veltman
Manager: Roberto de Zerbi 7
Ref: Sandro Scharer (SWZ) 6.5
AEK’s veteran Croatia international Domagoj Vida almost swept a back pass into his own net and Simon Adringra fired high from an angle. All this inside a slick opening 10 minutes.
The four changes made by De Zerbi to the team that won at Nottingham Forest on Saturday included a European debut for teenager Jack Hinshelwood, versatile England U19 midfielder and son of former Brighton centre-half Adam, who now manages Worthing in the National League South.
Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen had a busy evening but managed to keep a clean sheet
Jack Hinshelwood (pictured) became the youngest English player to start in the Europa League since Jude Bellingham in February 2022
Brighton’s task was made easier when Mijat Gacinovic was sent off for AEK Athens in the second half
At 18, Hinshelwood became the youngest English player to start in the Europa League since Jude Bellingham for Borussia Dortmund against Rangers in February 2022.
He was asked to play out of position at left-back and this involved long spells under pressure once AEK settled into their rhythm and began to dominate with Mexican playmaker Orbelin Pineda increasingly influential.
Verbruggen saved twice in quick succession from Pineda and tipped over a fierce drive from Steven Zuber. Swiss forward Zuber then glanced a header wide and saw another effort deflected against a post by a desperate sliding block by Dunk. AEK headed the rebound over.
Brighton would have been relieved to reach half-time level. Verbruggen made the first save of the second half, a strong hand thrust up to frustrate Mijat Gacinovic, before Pedro made the decisive contribution.
There were passionate celebrations from Brighton’s players at full time
Roberto De Zerbi hasguided his side into the knockout rounds with a game to spare
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